Louisiana Ethics Board rules Vermilion Parish Sheriff violated law

Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon’s purchase of a home at a Vermilion Parish Sheriff Sale in 2014 violated a state law, according to the Louisiana Board of Ethics.
Couvillon could be fined as much as $10,000 by the Ethics Board.
On Nov. 4, 2013, foreclosure proceedings were instituted against Michelle McNabb on her house south of Kaplan with the filling of a Petition for Excretory Process by the Standard Mortgage Corporation in the 15th Judicial District.
An order for the requested “writ of seizure and sale issue” was signed by Judge Herman Clause in district court on Nov. 8, 2013. The write itself was issued to the Sheriff’s Office four days later.
McNabb’s home was seized by the Sheriff’s Office deputies on Nov. 18, 2013. The notice of seizure, issued under Sheriff Couvillon’s authority, set a tentative date of Feb. 5, 2014 for the property’ auction at a Sheriff’s Sale.
On Jan. 10, 2014, attorneys for the Standard Mortgage Corporation which held the note, estimated the amount to satisfy the loan was $59,108.56
The Sheriff’s Sale was held Feb. 5, 2014 in the courthouse. Attorney Bart Bellaire acted as Sheriff Couvillon’s representative and placed a bid of $58,000 on the McNabb residence.
According to the Board of Ethics ruling, Couvillon violated a state law, “that prevents any public servant, member of his immediate family or legal entity in which he has controlling interest shall bid on or enter into any contract, subcontract or other transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such public servant.”
The ethics board will conduct a hearing on the charge and then hand out a penalty, such as a fine.
Couvillon responded to the ethics board’s ruling in a press release. Below is his response.
• “It is important to the public to understand that this is a notice for an ethics hearing and not a criminal investigation”
• “I am sworn to uphold the law and I take that oath very seriously.”
• “I contacted two attorneys prior to the foreclosure sale to make sure everything was done properly. Both attorneys confirmed that it was OK under the law for me to buy a house at the foreclosure sale.”
• “The bank was foreclosing on the house because the mortgage was not being paid.”
• “All laws were followed.”
• “I look forward to having the opportunity to tell the whole story and am confident that I did everything properly and according to the law.”
• "There is no doubt as to why this is being brought up now. I purchased the house on Feb. 5, 2014, over 17 months ago. It is an election season and it is obvious that this is all about negative politics.”